Stitch finger for sewing machines



Fab, 25, 1936. c. J. HAUSBECK STITCH FINGER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1954 INVENTOR EHEFIEE J. HBUEDEBK ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 25, 1936 Y umrso STATES PATENT OFFICE Charles J. Hausbeck, Queens Village, N. Y., as-

signor to Julius Kayser & 00., New York, N. Y.

Application June. 29, 1934, Serial No. 733,056

5 Claims.

This'invention relates to an. improved stitch finger or seam gage for use in sewing machines of the type wherein the fabric is stitched with an over-seam, while being fed between cooperating feed wheels, and relates more particularly to a hosiery or other seaming machine of the type known as the Union Special.

One object of the present invention is to provide, for use in gaging the width or depth of the seam, an improved stitch finger that adapts itself for varying thicknesses in the material being seamed. A. further object of this invention is to provide a spring loaded stitch finger or seam gage adapted to rise and fall to compensate for the variations in thickness in the fabric being seamed. A still further object of my invention is to provide in a machine of the above type a stitch finger having vertical guides in combination with a spring member pressing the finger downwardly, toward the feed cups or Wheels of the machine, and into cooperative engagement with the edges of the fabric being seamed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, i1- lustrated in the accompanying drawing, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a hosiery seaming machine of the Union Special type, with certain of the stitching elements omitted for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the improved stitch finger in association with certain known parts of the machine; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the holder for supporting the said finger; Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the spring for the finger; and Fig. 5 is a corresponding view looking on the edge of, the spring.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawing, the frame or housing I!) of the machine has secured thereto a bracket or casing carrying the spindle upon which is mounted the usual feed cup or wheel I2 which cooperates with a similar wheel l3 carried on the upper end of a spindle mounted in the casing M, which latter carries the needle guide l5 overhanging the said cup I 3 and cooperating with the reciprocating needle |6, the bar of which extends through an opening in the housing Ill and the said feed cups or wheels I2, l3 are rotated in opposite directions by suitable gearing in the usual manner well known in this type of machine, so that the peripheral faces of said cups or wheels engage and feed the hosiery or other fabric I! in the manner required, and so that the fabric passes between said feed cups and a seam I8 is stitched in the well known manner at the upper edges thereof.

The stitch finger I9 may be of any suitable or Well known construction for use in machines of this type; but instead of being rigidly secured to the holder 20, as in accordance with ordinary practice, Iv provide the holder 20 and finger l9 with a plate spring 2|, one end of which is firmly secured to the holder 20 by means of two screw pins 22,. while the opposite end of the spring is formed with. holes 23 (Fig. 4) for the free passage of two screw pins 24 that also pass freely through holes in the finger I9 and engage'screw-threaded sockets 25' in. the holder '20:, The upper surface of the holder 20 is beveled at 26 to suit the shape of the plate spring 2|, which bears resiliently upon the upper surface of the finger I 9 and holds same normally against the holder 20, and the arrangement is such that the finger l9 may ride upon the pins 24 against the action of the spring 2|, so that the pins 24 serve as guides for the resilient movement of the finger l9, and the heads of the pins 24 serve as stops for limiting the upward movement of said finger. By adjusting the screw pins 24 in the sockets 25 the amplitude of the resilient movement of the finger I!) may be regulated to suit requirements.

The holder 20 is adjustably secured in the usual manner by means of a screw 21 to a bracket 28 mounted on the housing H].

In operation, the parts of the sewing machine function in the usual well known manner, as in the seaming of full-fashioned stockings which are fed between the cups or wheels |2, L3 in the usual way, except that the stitch finger l9, which serves as a gage for determining the width or depth of the seam-instead of being rigidly mounted-is free to float under the action of the spring 2| so that, in the seaming of full-fashioned stockings for example, the stitch finger l9 may rise and fall to compensate for variations in the thickness of the fabric being seamed, as when the seam extends from the welt of a stocking to the sheer leg portion and from such leg portion to the thicker heel reinforcement, with the result that the width of the seam is gaged to produce in the stocking a substantially uni-- form seam extending over the portions of the stocking of varying thickness.

With a. stitch finger rigidly fixed to its holder in the usual manner, preliminary adjustment must be made to allow for the accommodation of the parts of the stocking of maximum thickness, and it is found that this adjustment results in the production of a seam that is unnecessarily wide or bulky in the sheer portions of the stocking. My improved spring-actuated stitch finger or seam gage insures, in the sheer portion of the stocking, a seam of. minimum width, while permitting in the thicker parts of the stocking the formation of a uniform seam without danger of causing the needle to miss parts of the thickened fabric edges intended to be seamed together; and my floating stitch finger or seam gage permits the production, in the finished stocking, of a back seam of minimum Width and of greater uniformity. 7

It is to be understood that the various parts of the machine operate in the usual well known manner, the reciprocating needle penetrating the'edges of the fabric to be seamed, while a thread looping element extends through the aperture 29 in the housing l0 and cooperates with the needle 16, and with the stitch finger I9 in the manner well known in the operation of overseaming sewing machines of the Union Special type;

Although the drawing and the above specification disclose the best mode in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, I desire to be in no way limited to the details of such disclosure, for in the further practical application of my invention changes in constructional details may be made as circumstances require or experience suggests, without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:-

1. A stitch finger and seam gage for sewing machines of the character described, comprising a holder, means for securing the holder on the frame of the machine, means for movably attaching the finger and gage to said holder, a spring engaging the upper surface of the finger for yieldingly retaining the finger and gage in operative position, and means for securing the spring to said holder.

2. A stitch finger and seam gage for sewing machines of the character described, comprising a fixed holder, means for securing the holder on the frame of the machine, guide pins for movably attaching the finger and gage to said holder, and a spring penetrated by said pins for yieldingly retaining the finger and gage in operative position.

3. A stitch finger for sewing machines of the character described comprising a holder, means for supporting said holder, means for mounting the finger upon the holder, and a spring element freely penetrated by said finger mounting means and fixed to the latter for yieldingly retaining the finger in cooperative engagement with the edges of the fabric being seamed.

4. In combination with the holder and stitch finger of a sewing machine of the character described, a pair of guide pins fixed to said holder and slidably received in said finger, and a spring member yieldingly mounting said finger on said holder and pins.

5. A stitch finger for sewing machines of the character described comprising a fixed holder, means for supporting said holder, guide pins freely mounting said finger on the holder, to have vertical adjustments relative to the holder, and a plate spring for yieldingly retaining the finger in cooperative engagement with the edges of the fabric being seamed.

CHARLES J. I-IAUSBECK. 

